Phillips among several leaders in Ottawa

Senators head coach Bryan Murray said Phillips' personality and work ethic led to him receiving the A.

by Todd Anderson

Defenceman Chris Phillips says he's honoured to be named an alternate captain with the Senators, but it's not going to change the way he approaches the game.

"I'm happy to be given this responsibility, I'm looking forward to it. You're given a letter partly because of your experience and partly for your character traits," Phillips says. "I'm ready for it. As the season goes on, maybe there will be situations I'll be required to step up and say something, but this won't change anything.

"I just want to lead by example and work hard every day. A big role for me this year is to be a shut-down guy, a defensive guy. Games that we haven't scored six goals and are leading 2-0, we have to play like we only have a two-goal lead."

Senators head coach Bryan Murray said Phillips' personality and work ethic led to him receiving the A.

"I always talk about good people. (Phillips) is a good person. He's a veteran guy and a very competitive guy. He's steady as an individual in the room and on the ice. At the end of the day, the players really like and respect this guy."

Senators forward Daniel Alfredsson will enter his eighth season as the team captain while defenceman Wade Redden also enters his eighth as the club's other alternate.

Phillips says the trio has the support from other people in the dressing room who can help lead the way.

"We have lots of leaders in this room. We just have to make sure we are all on the same page. (The leaders) have to be an example of that."

Alfredsson is entering his 11th season with the Senators and has scored 262 goals and 671 points over 706 games. Heading into his ninth season in Ottawa, Phillips has scored 32 goals and 138 points in 536 games. Redden, a nine-year Ottawa veteran, has scored 88 goals and 336 points in 694 games.